Russia, UK have different aims in Syria, but relations are not frozen — Foreign Office

October 26, 2015, 18:54 UTC+3LONDONAccording to the Foreign Office spokesman, London seeks to defeat the IS and to end the conflict whilst Moscow’s actions show that its priority is to support the Assad regime, not defeat IS

LONDON, October 26. /TASS/. Relations between the United Kingdom and Russia are not frozen or stagnant, but the two countries have different objectives in Syria, a spokesman for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) told TASS on Monday.

"We do not see the UK and Russia’s bilateral relationship as frozen or stagnant," the spokesman said commenting on an interview of Russian Ambassador to London Alexander Yakovenko with The Times. "Dialogue continues at all levels in areas of shared interest. The Iran nuclear agreement is an example of the scope for productive cooperation."

According to the spokesman, Moscow and London have different objectives in Syria. "We seek to defeat the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and to end the conflict whilst Russia’s actions show that its priority is to support the Assad regime, not defeat IS."

In his interview with The Times, Yakovenko said political dialogue between Moscow in London "have been abruptly broken off at Britain’s initiative" and "the only sphere we have left is culture."